Warrington Wolves U18s 6 Leeds Rhinos U18s 22

Two second-half tries from Seth Marchant plus scores from Zak Lloyd and Sonny Hetherington helped Leeds Rhinos Under-18s defeat Warrington Wolves Under-18s 22-6 at Victoria Park.

Both clubs came into the contest tied on 12 points in the Academy league table with three games to go, and for the first 30 minutes they looked like outfits that ranked second and third in standings as nothing could split the teams. Despite an early injury knock to Will Wilkinson, the Rhinos were unlucky not to turn an opportunity for Wade White into points before Marchant’s devilish grubber kick was pounded upon by Regan Parkman. Daniel Hill’s Warrington side countered when Leyton Haddrell combined with Tommy Rhodes but the chance went begging close to the try line as the Rhinos survived.

Large periods of the first half saw Leeds camped on their own try line as the Wolves started to grow into the contest. An apparent 40/20 kick by Rhodes was overturned after referee Reece Schofield judged that the ball hadn’t reached the 20-metre mark. Haddrell’s dart out of dummy half also was halted by resolute Rhinos defence – despite the heat of the afternoon – but it ended up being one too many sets to defend for Chev Walker’s side. Rhodes forced a set restart as his grubber kick bounced off the legs of the Leeds defence, and moments later a swinging move found Cameron Cooper in space for the centre to score what would be the home sides’ only points of the affair.

Zak Lloyd’s try just before half time caught many off-guard as poor defending by the Wire was exploited by the Leeds loose forward. Darting through with no-one to beat, the try proved crucial in tying the score back up with Seth Marchant’s conversion. A late penalty goal by the Leeds half back too sent the away side into the break as leaders – after Jacob Tooala was taken out late trying to get a kick away on the last tackle.

Buoyed by the slight half time lead, the young Rhinos caught the Wolves napping with a brilliantly played second period. Walker’s side passed up a huge tryscoring opportunity when Tooala’s arching run inside found White running a great angle himself, but the pass between the centre and full back was called forward. Nevertheless, Marchant made sure to put daylight between the sides as he backed up a half break by Hetherington to work his way through the try line.

Warrington’s biggest chance of the half came as Irvine’s pass was intercepted by Jack Fallon, but great tracking back by Leeds and a knock on from the Wolves winger ended the opportunity. In a switch from the first half, it was now the home side who were on the back foot defending their own line, but patient Leeds attack waited until the right time get it’s results – Hetherington scoring off a scrum play following a knock on by the Wolves.

Fallon’s second try scoring attempt was thwarted by Hetherington and Tooala in the dying moments, but with a Rhinos win on the cards, Marchant looked to rub salt into the wound with a drop goal that sailed wide of the mark. Unfazed, the half back found a try in the final moments with a driving run for the line to confirm a 22-6 triumph for Leeds.

Teams

Wolves U18s

1. George Welsh, 2. Jack Fallon, 3. Alfie Poles, 4. Cameron Cooper, 5. Regan Parkman, 6. Tommy Rhodes, 7. Jack Pendlebury, 8. Isaac Holdsworth, 9. Leyton Haddrell, 10. Zak Brand, 19. Brady Bottomley, 12. Oliver Bishop, 13. Ellis Livesy

Subs: 14. Ethan Holt, 15. Jamie Coop, 16. Tom Marshall, 17. Ed Williams (18^th Man: Oliver Orgill)

Tries: Cooper (29)

Goals: Rhodes 1/1

Rhinos U18s

1. Wade White, 2. Tom Richardson, 3. Jacob Hardy, 4. Jacob Tooala, 5. Sonny Hetherington, 6. Seth Marchant, 7. Kai Irvine, 8. Evan Jones, 9. Harvey Butterworth, 10. Robin Smith, 11. Alfie Steel, 12. Will Wilkinson, 13. Zak Lloyd

Subs: 14. Jack Mears, 15. Junior Rowse, 16. Connor Lawrie, 17. Hughie Tinkler (18th Man – Noah Lunn)

Tries: Lloyd (38), Marchant (49, 79) Hetherington (69)

Goals: Marchant 2/4

Penalty Goals: 1/1